Tag: James Sherlock
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A Grand Compromise on Crime, Mental Health and Guns
by James C. Sherlock Had enough? People organize into governments first for their collective protection. Virginians are not sufficiently protected from violence. The mass shootings of the past couple of weeks in Virginia offer an impetus to strike a grand bargain on public safety. Staying in corners waiting for control of all three branches of…
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The Governor Asks Virginians to Support Food Banks
by James C. Sherlock Amen.
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Homelessness in Petersburg – Part 2
by James C. Sherlock I wrote yesterday about the excellent investigative reporting by the Progress-Index about the knock-on effects of the renewal of fire and building code enforcement in Petersburg. My position is that Petersburg must enforce its codes for public safety and the livability of the city. But I also recognize the need to provide…
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Virginia Should Enforce Threat Assessment Laws. Noting Lack of Compliance Not Enough.
by James C. Sherlock I have written about the Threat Assessment Teams (TAT’s) of two state universities, the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. I assessed Tech to be compliant with state law. I reported that UVa is not. That of course raises the issue of the rest of Virginia’s colleges and universities. The Virginia…
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Petersburg Resumes Important Actions Against City Code Violators — Homeless Needs Increase
by James C. Sherlock Sometimes absolutely necessary actions have more than one outcome. Such is the case in Petersburg. Joyce Chu of Petersburg’s indispensable Progress- Index last evening initiated a multi-part series on the impacts of the city’s closure due to safety violations of two motels used by otherwise homeless people. Her first article makes…
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UVa Policy on Threat Assessment So Flawed It Seems Intentional
by James C. Sherlock I have reported in this space on the actions and inactions of the Threat Assessment Team (TAT) and its members at the University of Virginia in the case of the man now in jail for three murders and two woundings. I refer readers to my previous posts for my take on…
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Alleged Shooter’s Dorm Room on UVa Property Exposed Him to University Actions Not Taken
by James C. Sherlock Updated Nov. 19 at 8:50 AM. See details at end. So, the University of Virginia conducted a formal threat investigation of allegations of student possession of firearms on the Grounds. Except it really didn’t. The accused was found after three murders and two woundings to have possessed in his dorm room…
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UVa’s Investigators Missed an Arsenal in Shooter’s On-Grounds Dorm Room
by James C. Sherlock The Daily Progress just reported: The student charged in the shooting deaths of three University of Virginia football players had a semi-automatic rifle, pistol, ammunition, magazines and a device used to make bullets fire faster in his on-Grounds dorm room, according to a search warrant inventory that the Daily Progress obtained.…
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Who is an “Appropriate Disciplinary Authority” at UVa? Excellent Question, as it Turns Out
by James C. Sherlock The University of Virginia, as required by state law, has a policy on Preventing and Addressing Threats of Acts of Violence. It defines “unsanctioned possession of firearms, weapons, or other dangerous items.” as Violent or Threatening Behavior. The policy currently states: The (Threat Assessment Team) TAT does not serve as a…
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President Ryan’s Ship Has Hit the Shoals
by James C. Sherlock This is the Nov 16, 4:35 p.m. update to my highly controversial article on the failures of the University of Virginia to act against the alleged killer of three students before the crime. I was too gentle with the leadership of the University, my alma mater, in that article. I wrote…
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Afghan Immigrants and Their Children in Virginia – Part 1
by James C. Sherlock The flow of Afghan refugees into Virginia has been at a much higher volume than is generally appreciated. I have data on Virginia resettlements of Afghanis from 2016 through the middle of 2021, when the total was 8,560. The current total is far higher as a result of the Kabul airlift.…
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Loudoun’s School Board Special Election
by James C. Sherlock The people of Loudoun County have spoken — just barely. They elected Tiffany L. Polifko to the School Board. Ms. Polifko is a conservative with 20 years experience as a public and private school special education teacher. She currently serves as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst working with children on the autism…
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UVa Tragedy Reasonably Preventable? State Investigation Required
by James C. Sherlock Updated Nov. 15, 2020 at 8:36 AM (see end of article) We have two related pieces of information about the UVa tragedy that call into question the effectiveness of the University’s state-mandated threat-assessment process. We have the statements of senior University officials. And we have Code of Virginia § 23.1-805. Violence prevention…
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Tragedy at UVa – Suspect now in Custody – Troubling Reports about UVa Police Effectiveness
by James C. Sherlock From the Charlottesville Daily Progress: “Sean Perry, 22, and a linebacker and defensive end for the University of Virginia football team, is one of three people who was shot dead at Culbreth Garage on UVa Central Grounds at the University of Virginia Sunday night, Perry’s father Sean Perry confirmed Monday morning.…
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Fredericksburg is the Crime Capital of Virginia
by James C. Sherlock I wrote Friday that Fredericksburg has a major crime problem. After hours of plowing through state crime statistics for 2021, I can now declare Fredericksburg the crime capital of Virginia. Public safety is the number one job of local government, followed by running its schools. The statistics suggest the Fredericksburg law enforcement…